Oldest/Youngest

Phyllis Stein · July 30, 2012

With Cahill moving to the MLS it got me thinking, at 31 he was one of the senior players in the squad having spent 8 years with us. So I looked at the rest of the side and picking players that have actually made appearances in the league proper decided to tally up the average age of our oldest and then youngest 11.

Howard 33
Hibbert 31
Jagielka 30
Distin 34
Neville 35
Osman 31
Gibson 25
Fellaini 24
Pienaar 30
Jelavic 27
Anichebe 24

So 324/11 = 29.5*

Mucha 29
Coleman 23
Rodwell 21
Heitinga 28
Baines 27
Gueye 22
Gibson 25
Fellaini 24
Pienaar 30
Vellios 20
Anichebe 24

So 273/11 = 24.8*

Granted that four players appear in both lists makes the exercise a bit academic, but still to have a gap of 5 years is quite some difference. Are we a side in perpetual transition or could we see over the next 18 months a very significant drop in the average age of the first eleven as well as the squad.
Though I would be interested to see how the ages match up against other squads I really cba!

chicoazul · July 30, 2012

Good stuff, we've got a bit of in between mate, between the young lids and the senior lids but it sort of makes sense as the developed, Premiership ready players are the most expensive to buy in their mid twenties, of which we couldn't afford like.

Ihaters · July 30, 2012

We've clearly been buying for the future as well as the present and with all the money that's been going into finch farm its good to see that we are starting to get some of the players into the squad.
Rodwell, Barkley, Duffy, Velios and Fellaini in particular set up a solid future, and with some good younger players than that in the mix, the future is looking pretty good.
Keep em coming Moyes and co.

Phyllis Stein · July 30, 2012

Further thinking has me considering Moyes' transfer record. Not in terms of money but actually getting players in their so called prime.
Jelavic is the obvious and most recent acquisition that fits this field. Looks like I have to go back through the likes of Bily and Kroldrup to check their ages when they signed. A lot of Moyes' success has been with players in a run of hard luck - Pienaar, Arteta. Or players with potential that have been worth a gamble - Cahill, Fellaini.
We dont fare well in terms of internationals either, the last England player we had signed that went on to continue his international career was Barmby, and he legged it to the plonkers as quick as he could. Phil was already past England fame. Jags and Baines struggle to buy a game. Heitinga has stayed first choice CB for Holland, even when he hasnt been playing for us. Bily got left out. Kroldrup disappeared. What does Simon Davies do nowadays?
Needs a lot more research this.

Phyllis Stein · August 21, 2012

Knew it was familiar.

Phyllis Stein · August 25, 2012

Phyllis Stein said:
Howard 33
Hibbert 31
Jagielka 30
Distin 34
Neville 35
Osman 31
Gibson 25
Fellaini 24
Pienaar 30
Jelavic 27
Anichebe 24

So 324/11 = 29.5*

Mucha 29
Coleman 23
Rodwell 21
Heitinga 28
Baines 27
Gueye 22
Gibson 25
Fellaini 24
Pienaar 30
Vellios 20
Anichebe 24

So 273/11 = 24.8*

With the changes we have made, this needs recalculating.

Mucha 29
Coleman 23
Duffy 20
Heitinga 28
Baines 27
Gueye 22
Naismith 25
Mirallas 24
Barkley 18
Vellios 20
Mcaleny 20

So 256/11 = 23.3*

Ok a bit of a liberty as a bit of a change up with some of the fringe youngest players. But no overlap this time. That I was able to pick two different 11's is a novelty and it pulled the average age down by another year and a half.